Ethnic Disparities in Adiposity: Focus on Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Visceral, and Generalized Obesity

Overview

Journal Curr Obes Rep

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2019 May 31

PMID 31144261

Citations 32

Authors

Uchenna Agbim

Rotonya M Carr

Octavia Pickett-Blakely

Sam Dagogo-Jack

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Excessive adiposity has become a public health problem worldwide, contributing to the rise in obesity-related diseases and associated morbidity and mortality. This review details the relative significance of race/ethnicity as it pertains to adiposity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Recent Findings: Fat distribution remains a more reliable measure of adiposity than anthropometric measures, with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic disease. While obesity is the most common risk factor for NAFLD, the racial/ethnic prevalence of obesity does not completely parallel NAFLD risk. Combating racial/ethnic disparities in obesity requires understanding differential risk among various groups. Hispanics are disproportionally impacted by NAFLD and have high rates of obesity, VAT, and insulin resistance (IR). This contrasts with Blacks, who have high prevalence of obesity and IR, accompanied by a paradoxically favorable lipid profile and low prevalence of VAT and NAFLD. Many features of adiposity and NAFLD are mediated by genetic and environmental factors, the latter being modifiable and the focus of interventions.

Citing Articles

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